The Emporia State basketball teams both won at White Auditorium on Tuesday.
In game one of the twin bill, the Lady Hornets started four freshman for the first time in their Division II era and won big with an 89-59 blowout of Bellevue. ESU never trailed in the game and used a 15-1 run in the first quarter to build a 21-8 lead after 10 minutes. ESU built the lead to 41-26 at the half and never looked back. Gracie Gilpin led the Lady Hornets with 20 points while freshman Jayla Cornelius finished with 14 points and a career high 10 assists in her first career start filling in for the injured Katie Horyna. Head coach Brian Ostermann said the first and third quarters were big for E-State.
Cornelius said the belief in her from coaches and teammates gives her confidence.
Freshman Makenzie McDaniel earned her second career double-double with 12 points and a career high 15 rebounds. ESU (5-5, 1-1 MIAA) wraps up the first semester against Lincoln on Saturday. Pregame coverage begins at 1:00 p.m. with tip-off at 1:30 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network/Mix 104.9.
In the men’s game, Sterling College had a 4-0 lead early, but it was all Hornets after that in the first half as ESU turned a 25-point halftime lead into an 86-63 victory. ESU used a 22-4 run to take a 22-8 lead early in the first half and then went on a 13-2 run to end the half up 49-24 and the Warriors never made it a game after halftime. Arhman Lewis scored 16 points in the first half while Karyiek Dixon added 11 points and nine rebounds. Head coach Tom Billeter said the team continues to improve.
Freshman guard Justin Mack had a career high eight points and four assists and said the team is feeling sharp after a week off.
The Hornets (4-6, 1-1 MIAA) wrap up the first semester at home Friday hosting Rockhurst at 5:00 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. on the Hornet Sports Network/Mix 104.9.
